Workshops aim to nip invasive species in the bud

Wednesday

Feb 7, 2018 at 12:01 AMFeb 7, 2018 at 5:05 PM

Nick Nolan

Two educational public workshops are in the works detailing priority threat plant species found throughout the Eastern Upper Peninsula.

Three Shores Cooperative Invasive Species Management Area (CISMA) will be setting up shop in St. Ignace Public Library Feb. 13 at 7 p.m. and at Bayliss Public Library in Sault Ste. Marie Feb. 15 at 6 p.m. to discuss these pesky plants. Each one will focus on their respective counties’ threats.

“It’s kind of highlighting four or five species that we deem as a top priority in the Eastern Upper Peninsula,” said Nick Cassel, an invasive species program coordinator with Three Shores CISMA. “It’s essentially a workshop to educate and inform landowners, land managers and anyone curious about managing priority invasive species.”

The regular culprits will be present such as the Japanese Knotweed, Garlic Mustard and European Frog-bit. Cassel said another one of the featured annoyances will be the Himalayan Balsam — a pest that has been sprouting in the EUP the past few years. All the species discussed have an impact on the area’s ecology and economy.

“About two years ago, we discovered Himalayan Balsam. It’s known to be in Sault, Ontario,” he said. “Recently we’ve found it on our end. It’s kind of become a state priority species.”

The plants can occasionally be known as kiss-me-on-the-mountains or policeman’s helmet. They have a purple helmet looking flower that blossom. Despite its pleasant appearance the plant has aggressive deed dispersal and nectar production, making it capable of pulverizing native plant populations.

Cassel said that since the plant hasn’t spread throughout the state yet, it’s a crucial time to identify and eradicate it now. It’s advantageous for landowners to be able to spot them by the time to snow melts, or to remember them from 2017.

“If landowners remember that one particular weed that the guy was talking about in that workshop then we can jump on that very, very quickly,” added Cassel.

The workshops will have information presented through poster boards and on-hand experts. Cassel said he’d expect the presentation to go on from 40 to 45 minutes, but he’d have plenty of time for questions. Another asset on hand will be models.

“It’s a great tool because you can show people pictures all you want, but one of the best forms of education that we’ve found is hands on,” said Cassel on the mock plants.

The invasive program species program coordinator called these winter workshops important to getting a head start on the 2018 season. He encouraged anyone who’s interested to attend and ask questions.

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